The Institute for Ethics and the Common Good (ECG) has selected 14 Notre Dame sophomores to join its Ethics Research Fellowship (ERF) program through a competitive process that assessed each applicant’s research potential, interdisciplinary interest, and commitment to collaboration. These sophomores will join 23 current ERFs, including ten who are beginning their second year in the program and 13 who are beginning their third year.

The Ethics Research Fellowship program is an immersive, three-year mentorship experience that equips undergraduate students to carry out ambitious research which contributes to major ethical debates. ERFs work within the context of a close-knit, supportive community, developing their sense of purpose and character together. 

The program includes unique activities for sophomores, juniors, and seniors. In their first year as ERFs, students focus on identifying their research focus. As juniors, the students put their research plans into action with one-on-one research support, mentorship from ECG staff, and dedicated research grant funding. And in their senior year, ERFs develop their leadership skills, mentoring sophomore fellows while also participating in public engagement training and critical conversations in character and vocational discernment.

These fellows receive a stipend for their participation in the program and are incorporated into ECG's roster of events and activities during the academic year, including guest lectures, research workshops, film screenings, and community gatherings. Also, ERFs receive a funded fall break research vision trip to an international location during their sophomore year in the program.

This program receives generous support from the Lilly Foundation and Wake Forest’s Educating Character Initiative.

SOPHOMORE COHORT

Joshua Barnard - History, Philosophy and Theology
Amelia Beltran - Global Affairs, Greek and Roman Civilizations
Judith Bosco - Neuroscience and Behavior, Theology
Maria Fernanda Brenner - Psychology and Theology
Sofia Buck - Global Affairs, French
Patrick Bunal - Economics, PLS
Henry Jagodzinski - Program of Liberal Studies, Preprofessional Studies
Owen McDonald - Neuroscience
Appolinaire Nikiema - Computer Science, Economics
Precious Olaoye - Neuroscience and Behavior, Africana Studies
Ana María González Paniagua - Psychology; Education, Schooling, and Society
Stephania Sanchez - Political Science and Latino Studies
Francie Surdyke - Art History & Conservation, Medieval Studies
Gianna Switalski - History

Jada Bautista - Psychology, Visual Communication Design
Juan Becdach - Philosophy
Ethan Chiang - Business Analytics, Global Affairs
Shivani Gutierrez - Global Affairs, Philosophy
Matthew LaPorte - Theology, Pre-Professional Studies
Anastasia Leyendecker - Classics, Pre-Professional Studies
Ziyin (Lisa) Luo - Sociology, Economics
Luke Reynolds - Neuroscience and Behavior, Philosophy
Suzanne Santiago - Psychology
Katharine Steffes - Anthropology
Nicholas Swiderski - Philosophy
Dani Tutani - Economics, Constitutional Studies
Annabel Wehrle - Program of Liberal Studies

RETURNING SENIOR COHORT

Meera Bhakta - Science Pre-Professional Studies, International Development Studies
Kaden Cunningham - Anthropology, Sustainability
Elena Ding - Philosophy, Physics
Marcelo Guzman Aguirre - Economics, Spanish
Jun Wei Lee - History, Philosophy
Edward Nagler - Political Science, Business Economics
Melissa Osorio - Sociology, Latino Studies
Nazwin Palines - Theology, Philosophy
Miriam Rice - Music, Program of Liberal Studies
James Thompson - Sociology, Peace Studies

Learn more about ECG's undergraduate ethics research fellowship program on our website.

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The Institute for Ethics and the Common Good is at the heart of the Ethics Initiative, a University-wide effort to establish Notre Dame as a premier global destination for the study of ethics. Under the leadership of Meghan Sullivan, Ethics Initiative director and Wilsey Family College Professor of Philosophy, the institute focuses on cross-disciplinary ethics research, undergraduate course development, the moral formation of its students and faculty, and engaging the public in meaningful dialogue around ethical issues.

Originally published by Laura Moran Walton at ethics.nd.edu on May 15, 2025.